Sexual urges overcome cultural taboo. So it turns out that the female children of immigrants from conservative societies (South Asian and Islamic) are paying for hymen restoration surgeries. The more interesting question would be if these children become sexually conservative themselves, perpetuating the life history trajectory so that their own children have to go through these sorts of reconstructions.

A Singular Kind of Eugenics. It seems “privilege” is the new hot-button for Lefties who are skeptical of assisted reproductive technologies and genetic modifications. I suspect it’s a Left-wing buzzword which is equivalent to Righties who bring up “dignity” or the “wisdom of repugnance.” Much easier than having to generate clear prose and understand the complex motives which underpin an issue. Buying really expensive smartphones and pure entertainment machines like iPads also are manifestations of privilege. So what distinguishes X from Y? Not the commonality, privilege, but perhaps the same gut intuitions which Right bioconservatives are willing to man up to, repugnance. Some privileges are repugnant (biological interventions) and some frivolous (iPad). Also, when did discourse replace discussion and privilege replace class?

Methinks meat is about as magical as a food can get. The magic secret to that sandwich, and many other delicious foods, is anchovies. There is nothing like oily fish/fish sauce to add real flavor to things. Salad dressing without anchovies is a sorry thing.

http://haquelebac.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/my-fossil-railroad/ John Emerson

Hymen reconstruction surgery was easily available in Taiwan in 1987. It just replaced old folkish methods of faking it.

bioIgnoramus

“Buying really expensive smartphones and pure entertainment machines like iPads also are manifestations of privilege”: no they’re bloody not. They are manifestations of wealth and status-seeking. Privilege involves things not available for nice, clean money, such as “legacy” admission to Harvard.

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About Razib Khan

I have degrees in biology and biochemistry, a passion for genetics, history, and philosophy, and shrimp is my favorite food. In relation to nationality I'm a American Northwesterner, in politics I'm a reactionary, and as for religion I have none (I'm an atheist). If you want to know more, see the links at http://www.razib.com